Hot Town, Summer Concerts in the City

Hey Rochester, remember that day this July when it was really hot outside?  Yeah, me too! I know I’ve mentioned before that my 99 VW Jetta has been without air conditioning for a few years now, but I’ve noticed something new this summer that I wanted to point out:  On days when it’s sweltering outside, and nearly everyone is running their car’s AC, you’ll occasionally pull up next to someone who also has their windows down.  When this happens, there’s an unspoken camaraderie that is formed and acknowledged with a head nod.  I’ve grown to appreciate this nearly as much as I’d appreciate having AC when the temp approaches 100 degrees.

On the bright side, though, the incessant heat has given me ample opportunities to say, “Pretty much everywhere, it’s gonna be hot!”

Another great thing about summer is going to outdoor concerts, and Rochester’s “Down by the Riverside” concert series offers a free concert in Mayo Park each Sunday night in July and August.  This year’s series kicked off on July 8^th with Foghat and continued with Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds this past weekend.  For those looking to attend, I offer these three pointers:

A) Bring chairs or blankets. The concerts are held in a park, so there are no chairs set up. Make sure to bring along something comfortable to sit on for a couple hours.

2) Bring a cooler! Coolers are allowed, so do yourself a favor and fill one up with whatever beverages sound good to you on a hot day!

D) Arrive early!  Though the sound is great from nearly anywhere in the park, there are some trees that can block sightlines.  Arriving early means you’ll be able to claim some of the prime real-estate in front of the trees and closer to the stage.

I arrived to Mayo Park excited to see Sister Sparrow and Dirty Birds, who are a “nine-piece powerhouse that puts a modern spin on classic soul.”  Without an intern of any sorts for this adventure, I elected to leave the cooler at home and instead go the concession stand route. 

Thankfully, Rochester has decided that the Coors Light train is one train that it can live with in its downtown area, so the suds were flowing to help combat the heat. 

Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds soon took the stage and began pushing the pedal to the floor.  In my limited frame of reference, I would liken them to Blues Traveler with Janis Joplin as a lead-singer (but John Popper still with the band and playing harmonica).  I particularly enjoyed their cover of the Rolling Stones’ song “Miss You”.

“Down by the Riverside” has booked a wide range of performers this year, so fans of nearly any genre should be able to find a show to attend. For a list of upcoming shows, visit the Riverside Concerts website.

Coming up in my next post:  Ned Ryerson!!! I know we’ve been down this “coming up…” road before, but I’m hopeful that Mother Nature will allow us to make it happen this time!  If so, Bill Plantan, owner of River Ridge Custom Canoes, will be taking me out on the water for a day of fishing, paddling, and sight seeing.  Having a master guide like Bill ensures I’ll see the best that the area has to offer, so it should be a pretty fantastic day.  I look forwarding to relaying it to all of you!  Until then…

I’m on a Boat (and a Bike)!

I know, Rochester. Based on the “Coming up in my next post” sections of my previous two blogs, this post should cover my adventures with River Ridge Custom Canoes.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and the river was too high to slay the number of fish we were hoping for!  As a result, its been postponed to July.  But fret not, my good folks, I was still able to get out and soak up some action!

You know that super common saying, “When Mother Nature closes a canoe, she opens a paddle boat and/or tandem bike?”  Well, it actually fit quite literally in my predicament because the unpaid intern (read: wife) and I decided to go to Silver Lake Boat and Bike Rentals for some paddleboating and tandem biking.

For those not yet familiar with the southeastern Minnesota Babylon known as Rochester, Silver Lake is kind of a big deal.  It’s just north of downtown, it is surrounded by parks and trails, and it’s home to most of Rochester’s Canadian geese that you hear so much about (they’re also featured prominently in Rochester’s logo). In addition to being a big deal, Silver Lake is also quite beautiful, so an afternoon spent enjoying its offerings comes highly recommended by Rochester’s favorite (read: only) CVB blogger!

We decided to do our best Dave Stoller impersonation and go biking first.  The great thing about the tandem bikes at Silver Lake Boat and Bike Rentals is that the two people sit side-by-side instead of front-to-back.  This is great for conversation and interaction, as it makes it much easier to talk to one another while you’re pedaling. 

Another great aspect of renting a tandem bike at Silver Lake is that it gives you access to nearly the entire Rochester Trail System, which spans over 85 miles.  You could even go as far as Pine Island, MN if you felt like spending a little extra quality time with your tandem partner!

After biking a lap around the lake, it was time to get in our paddleboat.  And let me tell you something: paddleboat technology has come a long way since the days of my youth!  No longer are they plastic boats with plastic pedals that sit about as low to the water as a kayak! These babies sit atop pontoon floats, have a roof that provides shade, and are even equipped with electric trolling motors should you choose to take a more relaxing approach to sailing the seas.  Plus, if you rent the boat for more than an hour, you’ll have time to paddle along the river into downtown.

After befriending some geese and exploring the shoreline, the unpaid intern (read: wife) and I returned to land and called it a day.  However, we’ll definitely be heading back there this summer to do some more exploring.

Silver Lake Boat and Bike also rents canoes, kayaks, and park games like bean bag toss, horseshoes, bocce ball, and croquet.  For more information, visit their website or call 507-261-9049.

Coming up in my next post: I don’t want you, cook my bread. I don’t want you, make my bed. I don’t want your money too, I just wanna write blogs for you! That’s right, I’ll be in the presence of Foghat as they play at the Riverside Concerts’ Down by the Riverside concert series! Enjoy your 4ths of July, and remember: Fireworks are like engagement rings… It’s expected that you drop at least two months’ salary on them!